For the 19th year, Tree City USA has designated Miami Lakes a “tree city.” The town acknowledged the recognition and celebrated Arbor Day by planting a Cathedral Oak tree in Park 21, a block west of Miami Lakes K-8 Center School.
Girl Scout Troop 902 members Arianna Anderson read the Pledge of Allegiance and Aurora Medina recited a poem to celebrate the day.
Miami Lakes is famed for its tree canopy that covers 30 percent of its area, Parks & Recreation Director Jeremy Bajdaun said. Trees are a part of the town’s identity and appear in its logo.
“They are more than just things that look nice,” Mayor Josh Dieguez said. “They help produce the oxygen that we breathe.”
He spoke before a group of children from the school, as well as Miami Lakes Garden Club members Esther Colon and Xiomara Castillo.
Dieguez presented a proclamation to thank Bajdaun and staff for maintaining the town’s 18,000 trees.
“This is just one day but Arbor Day, in reality, is every day,” Bajdaun said.